Senior Hardware Test and Reliability Engineer

Skydio is the leading US drone company and the world leader in autonomous flight, the key technology for the future of drones and aerial mobility. The role owns the end-to-end validation of safety-critical behaviors for autonomous flying machines operating in demanding enterprise and public safety environments. You will architect and execute rigorous test regimes that push complex electro-mechanical systems to their limits before they ever leave the lab. The position demands deep collaboration across disciplines to translate high-level reliability goals into executable test procedures and measurable pass criteria. You will leverage statistical analysis and field-derived data to evolve test strategies continuously throughout the product lifecycle. This role is responsible for ensuring that hardware and software integrations meet stringent reliability standards under real-world conditions. You will drive the discovery of latent failure modes that simpler testing would miss, directly influencing product robustness. Your work will establish the evidence base that gives customers confidence in Skydio's autonomous systems.

Location: US CA San Mateo

Engagement: Full-time

Compensation: At Skydio, our compensation packages for regular, full-time employees include competitive base salaries, equity in the form of stock options, and comprehensive benefits packages. Compensation will vary based on factors, including skill level, proficiencies, transferable knowledge, and experience. Relocation assistance may also be provided for eligible roles. The annual base salary range for this position is $170,000 - $230,000*. Fundamentally, we believe that equity is the key to long-term financial growth, and we ensure all regular, full-time employees have the opportunity to significantly benefit from the company's success. Regular, full-time employees are eligible to enroll in the Company's group health insurance plans. Regular, full-time employees are eligible to receive the following benefits: Paid vacation time, sick leave, holiday pay and 401K savings plan. This position and all associated benefits are subject to applicable federal, state, and local laws, as well as the Compensation at-will policy.

- Conduct exhaustive validation of complex electro-mechanical systems by designing test protocols that expose edge cases and failure boundaries early in the development cycle.

- Define and own the technical test strategy, translating product requirements into rigorous validation plans that cover functional, environmental, and durability scenarios.

- Partner with electrical and mechanical engineers to perform detailed failure analysis, utilizing advanced debugging techniques to isolate root causes of system-level faults.

- Build and maintain extensive test datasets that correlate flight telemetry with hardware performance metrics to predict failures before they impact customers.

- Drive the creation of automated test fixtures and scripts that accelerate test execution and improve the repeatability of results across multiple hardware revisions.

- Interface directly with manufacturing teams to qualify production processes and ensure that test methodologies survive high-volume build realities.

- Synthesize complex test results into clear reliability metrics and risk assessments that inform design decisions and trade-off discussions.

- Represent Skydio in cross-functional design reviews, providing data-driven inputs that shape hardware and software architecture from prototype to launch.

- Champion a culture of reliability by documenting test procedures, standards, and best practices that scale across products and teams.

- Engage with external partners and suppliers to validate component-level performance and ensure compliance with system-level reliability targets.

- Apply statistical methods and probabilistic modeling to assess risk and quantify the confidence level of test outcomes.

- Utilize Python and SQL to develop analysis pipelines that turn raw telemetry into actionable insights for the engineering organization.

- Mentor junior engineers on testing best practices, fostering a shared understanding of hardware reliability challenges across the organization.

- Stay abreast of emerging testing tools and methodologies to continuously improve the efficiency and depth of validation programs.

- Ensure all testing activities align with regulatory requirements and internal quality standards relevant to aerospace and autonomous systems.

- Bring 6+ years of hands-on experience testing, developing, and delivering highly reliable complex electro-mechanical systems.

- Demonstrate a history of owning test strategy end-to-end, with full accountability for execution quality, risk management, and system readiness.

- Apply strong robotics testing experience and solid mechanical intuition to rapidly diagnose and resolve hardware-related failures.

- Possess extensive knowledge of failure modes and integration risks for critical electronics and mechanical subsystems like compute platforms, sensors, and actuators.

- Show proficiency in Python and/or SQL to analyze large datasets and to script automated testing that uncovers correlations across drone operations and environments.

- Exhibit a passion for communicating nuanced hardware reliability concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

- Secure and maintain the required certifications, including obtaining FAA Part 107 within the first 60 days of employment.

- Thrive in a fast-paced environment where ambiguity is common and the ability to prioritize across competing demands is essential.

- Display strong written and verbal communication skills to articulate test results and advocate for reliability-driven design changes.

- Demonstrate the discipline to manage multiple concurrent test programs while maintaining rigorous attention to detail.

Preferred skills and experience that amplify your potential impact in this role.

This role is based in San Mateo, California, and requires physical presence in the office. The position is full-time and eligible for standard employment benefits as described in the compensation section. FAA Part 107 certification must be obtained within the first 60 days of employment. Travel may be required for supplier visits, customer engagements, or industry conferences. This role is exempt and eligible for equity compensation under applicable company policies.